UofA Growth Ignores Student Need For Green Space

“Do not forget this is a land-grant institution, given by and for ‘the people.’ We are certainly lucky to have the UofA in Fayetteville, much like other entities. I would not call them a ‘cash cow.’”

Dear Editor:

I enjoyed your article (in the July 25 issue) on the UofA’s unprecedented growth. In an email to the chancellor I kept asking about ‘greenspace’ and he kept talking about their record of building ‘green’ (which I applaud). My main concern is the new eight or nine or 10 thousand students with no new ‘greenspace.’ In fact, the growth, much of it well done and necessary for our campus, has done nothing but shrink the available open, natural areas for much needed peace, quiet and natural beauty for both students and all others of our fair city. Do not forget this is a land-grant institution, given by and for ‘the people.’ We are certainly lucky to have the UofA in Fayetteville, much like other entities. I would not call them a ‘cash cow.’ Remember the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on construction is paid for by who? Us!

So, I heartily hope they see the responsibility and need to help us ‘save’ more of the beauty of the land we find ourselves in. Help us preserve Kessler Mountain for city, university and respect and humility towards the wonder of creation (Ozark version). Help to finally open up some of Markham Hill’s northern slope for trails. Help finance a neighborhood park for the thousands of our ‘neighbors’ on campus. Green is good.